Method for repeatable and accurate dispensing of fluids containing solids

Abstract

A system or method for monitoring drilling fluid. The system may comprise a fluid supply, wherein the fluid supply houses a drilling fluid, a pump, wherein the pump is fluidly connected to the fluid supply, a dispensation unit, wherein the dispensation unit is fluidly connected to the pump, and a process vessel, wherein the process vessel is fluidly coupled to the dispensation unit. The dispensation unit may comprise a housing, wherein the housing may comprise an internal cavity, an inlet, and an outlet. The dispensation unit may further comprise a top plate, wherein the top plate is configured to form a seal over the housing, and a diaphragm, wherein the diaphragm is disposed between the top plate and the housing. A method may comprise pumping the drilling fluid through a dispensation unit, actuating the dispensation unit, and determining a property of the drilling fluid.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A system for monitoring drilling fluid, comprising:
 a fluid supply, wherein the fluid supply houses a drilling fluid; 
 a pump, wherein the pump is fluidly connected to the fluid supply, and wherein the pump is configured to remove the drilling fluid from the fluid supply; 
 a dispensation unit, wherein the dispensation unit is fluidly connected to the pump and the dispensation unit is configured to receive the drilling fluid and wherein the dispensation unit comprises:
 a housing, wherein the housing comprises: 
 an internal cavity, wherein the internal cavity is an absence of material in the housing configured to be filled with a fluid; 
 an inlet, wherein the inlet is a first opening in the housing fluidly coupling the housing to the fluid supply; and 
 an outlet, wherein the outlet is a second opening in the housing fluidly coupling the housing to the fluid supply; and 
 a top plate, wherein the top plate is configured to form a seal over the housing; and 
 a diaphragm, wherein the diaphragm is disposed between the top plate and the housing; and 
 
 a process vessel, wherein the process vessel is fluidly coupled to the dispensation unit and is configured to analyze and monitor the drilling fluid. 
 
     
     
       2. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the drilling fluid comprises sand, drill cuttings, clays, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
       3. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the process vessel comprises at least one sensor and wherein the at least one sensor is an electrical impedance sensor configured to be used in spectroscopy. 
     
     
       4. The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a coupling, wherein the coupling is attached to the top plate and wherein the coupling connects the dispensation unit to an external gas source and wherein the external gas source is configured to supply pressure onto the diaphragm through the coupling forming a fixed volume. 
     
     
       5. A dispensation unit, comprising:
 a housing, wherein the housing comprises:
 an internal cavity, wherein the internal cavity is an absence of material in the housing configured to be filled with a fluid; 
 an inlet, wherein the inlet is a first opening in the housing fluidly coupling the housing to a fluid supply; and 
 an outlet, wherein the outlet is a second opening in the housing fluidly coupling the housing to the fluid supply; and 
 
 a top plate, wherein the top plate is configured to form a seal over the housing; and 
 a diaphragm, wherein the diaphragm is disposed between the top plate and the housing. 
 
     
     
       6. The dispensation unit of  claim 5 , further comprising a coupling, wherein the coupling is attached to the top plate and wherein the coupling connects the dispensation unit to an external gas source. 
     
     
       7. The dispensation unit of  claim 5 , wherein the top plate comprises at least one recess, wherein the at least one recess is disposed in an internal surface of the top plate. 
     
     
       8. The dispensation unit of  claim 5 , wherein the internal cavity is disposed concentric with the housing, wherein a height of the internal cavity is equivalent to a thickness of the housing, wherein a width of the internal cavity decreases as the thickness of the housing increases. 
     
     
       9. The dispensation unit of  claim 5 , wherein the internal cavity has a volume of 20 milliliters to 50 milliliters. 
     
     
       10. The dispensation unit of  claim 5 , wherein the housing further comprises a valve, wherein the valve is disposed at or near a bottom portion of the housing and adjacent to the internal cavity. 
     
     
       11. The dispensation unit of  claim 10 , further comprising a pneumatic cylinder, wherein the pneumatic cylinder is disposed on an outer surface of the top plate, a plunger, wherein the plunger is at least partially disposed in the pneumatic cylinder and traverses through the housing, and a seal, where the seal is disposed in place of the valve and wherein the plunger is at least partially disposed in the seal. 
     
     
       12. The dispensation unit of  claim 11 , wherein the diaphragm is coupled to the plunger, wherein the diaphragm displaces as the plunger displaces. 
     
     
       13. A method for analyzing a drilling fluid, comprising:
 pumping the drilling fluid through a dispensation unit, wherein the dispensation unit comprises:
 a housing, wherein the housing comprises: 
 an internal cavity, wherein the internal cavity is an absence of material in the housing configured to be filled with a fluid; 
 an inlet, wherein the inlet is a first opening in the housing fluidly coupling the housing to a fluid supply; and 
 an outlet, wherein the outlet is a second opening in the housing fluidly coupling the housing to the fluid supply; and 
 
 a top plate, wherein the top plate is configured to form a seal over the housing; and 
 a diaphragm, wherein the diaphragm is disposed between the top plate and the housing; and 
 actuating the dispensation unit; and 
 determining a property of the drilling fluid. 
 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 13 , further comprising of applying a pressure to the diaphragm to displace the diaphragm into the internal cavity. 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 14 , wherein the top plate comprises a coupling, wherein the coupling is connected to an external gas source, wherein the external gas source supplies a pressure to the diaphragm. 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 13 , further comprising of displacing the diaphragm with a plunger. 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 16 , wherein the dispensation unit further comprises a pneumatic cylinder and the plunger, wherein the diaphragm is coupled to the plunger, wherein the pneumatic cylinder is actuated to displace the plunger, wherein the diaphragm displaces as the plunger displaces. 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 13 , wherein actuating the dispensation unit comprises of actuating a valve, wherein the valve is disposed at or near a bottom portion of the housing and adjacent to the internal cavity. 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 18 , wherein pumping the drilling fluid comprises of filling the internal cavity with the drilling fluid. 
     
     
       20. The method of  claim 19 , wherein actuating the valve comprises of emptying the internal cavity of the particulate-containing fluid residing therein, wherein the drilling fluid is analyzed by a process vessel coupled to the dispensation unit.